THE HUMAN ORGANISM AND LANGUAGE OF ANATOMY MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE HUMAN BODY

ANATOMY

- science of structure
- relationships revealed by dissection (cutting apart)
- imaging techniques

PHYSIOLOGY

- science of body functions

- normal adult physiology is studied in this class
- some genetic variations occur

STRUCTURAL ORGANIZATION OF MATTER

1. Chemical Levels

Atoms

- Proton
- Neutron
- Electrons

Molecules

- Two or more atoms joined together by either covalent or ionic bonds

- Four biologically important organic molecules in the human body
a. Proteins which are made from 20 different Amino Acids
b. Complex Carbohydrates (made from simple sugars)
c. Nucleic Acids (made from nucleotides)
d. Lipids (made from fatty acids and glycerol)
2. Cells
- Smallest structural and functional units of the human body
3. Tissues
- Group of cells and the materials surrounding them that work together to perform a particular function
4. Organs
- Composed of two or more tissues work together to provide specific functions and they usually have specific
shapes

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5. Organ Systems
- consist of one or more organs that provide a common function

Examples:

- Integumentary system
- Skeletal system
- Muscular system
- Nervous system
- Endocrine system
- Cardiovascular system
- Lymphatic system
- Respiratory system
- Digestive system
- Urinary system
- Reproductive system

Basic Life Processes

1. Metabolism
- Sum of all biochemical processes of cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems
2. Responsiveness
- Ability to detect and respond to changes in the internal and external environment
3. Movement
- Occurs at the intracellular, cellular, organ levels
4. Growth
- Increase in number of cells, size of cells, tissues, organs, and the body. Single cell to multicellular complex
organism
5. Differentiation
- Process a cell undergoes to develop from a unspecialized to a specialized cell
6. Reproduction
- Formation of new cells for growth, repair, or replacement, or the production of a new individual.

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Homeostasis

- Equilibrium of the body’s internal environment produced by the interaction of organ systems and
regulatory processes (feedback systems).
- Homeostasis is a dynamic condition in response to changing conditions.

The two body systems that largely control the body’s homeostatic state:

1. Nervous system
2. Endocrine system

Control of Homeostasis

- Homeostasis is continually being disrupted by:

- external stimuli
- intense heat, cold, and lack of oxygen
- internal stimuli
- psychological stresses
- exercise
- disruptions are usually mild & temporary

If homeostasis is not maintained, death may result

Components of Feedback Loop

Receptor

- monitors a controlled condition

Control center

- determines next action

Effector

- receives directions from the control center

- produces a response that changes the controlled condition

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Anatomical Position

The anatomical position is a standardized method of observing or imaging the body that allows precise and
consistent anatomical references.

When in the anatomical position, the subject stands:

- standing upright
- facing the observer, head level
- eyes facing forward
- feet flat on the floor
- arms at the sides
- palms turned forward (ventral)

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Reclining Position

- If the body is lying face down, it is in the prone position.

- If the body is lying face up, it is in the supine position.

Basic Body Planes or Sections

- These terms are used for planes or sections that cut the body, organs, tissues, or cells

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Two Principal Body Cavities and their Subdivisions

THE LANGUAGE OF ANATOMY

Anatomical position – Stand up and put your body in erect position with palms facing forward and thumbs
pointing away from the body, feet parallel and arms hanging at each side and the face placed straight
forward.

Directional Terms – allows medical personnel and anatomist to explain exactly where one body structure is
in relation to another

DIRECTIONAL TERMS DEFINITION EXAMPLE

Superior (cranial / cephalad) Toward the head end or upper The forehead is superior to the
part of the structure or body; nose
above
Inferior (caudal) Away from the head end or The navel is inferior to the
toward the lower part of the breastbone
structure of the body; below
Ventral (anterior) Toward or at the front of the The breastbone is anterior to
body; in front of the spine
Dorsal (posterior) Toward or at the backside of The heart is posterior to the
the body; behind breastbone
Medial Toward or at the midline of The heart is medial to the arm
the body; on the inner side of
Lateral Away from the midline of the The arms are lateral to the
body; on the outer side  chest
Proximal Close to the origin of the body The elbow is proximal to the
part or at the point of wrist (meaning that the elbow
attachment of a limb to the is closer to the shoulder or
body trunk attachment point of the arm
tha the wrist is)
Distal Farther from the origin of the The knee is distal to the thigh
body part or a point of
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Superficial (external) Toward ar at the body surface The skin is superficial to the
skeleton
Deep (internal) Away from the body surface; The lungs are deep to the rib
more internal cage
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REGIONAL TERMS

- Anterior Body Landmarks

- Abdominal – anterior body trunk inferior to the ribs
- Acromial – point of the shoulder
- Antebrachial – forearm
- Antecubital – anterior surface of the elbow
- Axillary – armpit
- Brachial – arm
- Buccal – cheek area
- Carpal – wrist
- Cervical – neck region
- Coxal – hip
- Crural – leg
- Deltoid – curve of the shoulder formed by large deltoid muscles
- Digital- fingers, toes
- Femoral – thigh
- Fibular – lateral part of the leg
- Frontal - Forehead
- Inguinal – area where the thigh meets the body trunk, groin
- Nasal – nose area
- Oral – mouth
- Orbital – eye area
- Patellar – anterior knee
- Pelvic – area overlying the pelvis anteriorly
- Pubic – genital region
- Sternal – breastbone area
- Tarsal – ankle region
- Thoracic – chest
- Umbilical – navel

POSTERIOR BODY LANDMARKS

- Calcaneal – heel of the foot

- Cephalic – head

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- Femoral – thigh
- Gluteal – buttock
- Lumbar – area of the back between the ribs and hips
- Occipital – posterior surface of the head
- Olecranal – posterior surface of the elbow
- Popliteal – posterior knee area
- Sacral – area between the hips
- Scapular – shoulder blade region
- Sural – posterior surface of the lower leg

DIVISIONS OF THE ABDOMEN

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NINE REGIONS OF THE ABDOMEN

Teacher’s Insight:

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The general anatomy is very important in every student enrolled in any course of the allied health discipline,
the regional terms and directional terms are most often used in the hospital. Like for example, a radiographic
procedure of the shoulders must be taken. The radiographer on duty will instruct you to abduct the arm of the
patient, meaning you must cast the arm away from the midline of the body. Also, the radiographer may
instruct you to direct the central ray cephalad, which means, you must angulate the central ray towards the
head.

This is just a scenario in which usage of the directional and regional terms is used, so every health care worker
must be familiarized in using these terms.

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